Natural Pest Control Inspired by Nematode Communication

Innovation: Industry

Pheronym

2020

Image: Glenn Carstens-Peters / Unsplash / CC BY SA - Creative Commons Attribution + ShareAlike

Protect From Fungi

Fungi–which include molds and mushrooms, amongst others–play important roles in every ecosystem, but can also create diseases in plants and animals. Fungi can rapidly reproduce, so living systems must fend them off early to avoid their spread and potential, physical harm. Living systems use both physical and chemical strategies to protect from fungi, and must ensure that these strategies don’t harm the threatened living system itself. For example, a pumpkin’s skin has antifungal proteins to prevent fungal growth without harming the pumpkin itself.

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Protect From Microbes

In living systems, microbes play important roles, such as breaking down organic matter and maintaining personal and system health. But they also pose threats. Bacteria can be pathogens that cause diseases. Some bacteria create colonies called biofilms that can coat surfaces, reducing their effectiveness–for example, inhibiting a leaf’s ability to photosynthesize. Living systems must have strategies for protecting from microbes that cause disease or become so numerous that they create an imbalance in the system. At the same time, living systems must continue living in harmony with other microbes. Some living systems kill microbes. Others repel without killing to reduce the chances that microbes will adapt to the lethal strategy and become resistant to it. For example, some pea seedlings exude a chemical that inhibits biofilm buildup.

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Nemastim from Pheronym uses pheromones as a natural pesticide to help improve crop production.

Benefits

Reduced chemical use
Increased production

Applications

Agriculture
Food and beverage industry

UN Sustainable Development Goals Addressed

Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Goal 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities
Goal 12: Responsible Production & Consumption

The Challenge

Consumers demand safe, eco-friendly, sustainable solutions for the food they eat because they are aware of the adverse effects of synthetic pesticides. This has led to restrictions and bans on the $56 billion synthetic pesticide market, but farmers still have to control pests for sustainable food production. The $4.5 billion global biopesticide market is growing at a rate of 14% due to increased demand from organic food production.

Innovation Details

Pheronym increases the effectiveness of commercially available beneficial nematodes (microscopic roundworms) by tapping into their natural communication platform, pheromones. These pheromones tell beneficial nematodes to be more effective and efficient predators, and also trick parasitic nematodes into thinking there are no food sources nearby. This allows for the widespread adoption of a proven organic farming technique and provides eco-friendly agricultural pest control.

Watch how Pheronym uses nematode pheromones to increase crop production.

Biological Model

Nematodes are the most abundant animals on earth, and are a critical component of healthy soils. Beneficial nematodes protect crops by eating harmful organisms and recycling nutrients into the soil, while other species of nematodes act as pests, parasitizing crop roots or spreading viruses between plants.

See Related Content

photograph of grain plants and cloudy sky during day

Biological Strategy

Pheromones Turn Nematodes Into Pest-killing Machines

Nematodes

Applying pheromones to nematodes turns them into the ultimate natural pesticide, drastically increasing destruction of insects

Ray of Hope Prize

The Ray of Hope Prize® celebrates nature-inspired solutions addressing the world’s biggest environmental and sustainability challenges. Created in honor of Ray C. Anderson, founder of Interface, Inc. and a business and sustainability leader, the $100,000 Ray of Hope Prize helps startups cross a critical threshold in becoming viable businesses by amplifying their stories and providing them with equity-free funding. The prize shines a light on the innovative, nature-inspired solutions that we need to build a sustainable and resilient world. Pheronym was selected as a finalist for the 2020 Ray of Hope Prize.

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